Mokena Park Dist. plans to sell $800,000 in bonds

Mokena Park District officials said they plan to sell $810,000 in bonds to cover additional costs for projects at The Oaks Recreation Center and the historic Yunker Farm.

The bonds also would be used to help with undetermined future park improvements, officials said.

This is the most money the district can borrow without a referendum. The only legal action required is approval of an ordinance authorizing the bond sale, which could come at the board's January meeting.

District officials discussed the bonds on Nov. 22.

The current project includes a 20,000 square foot building addition to The Oaks for more gym space, a multipurpose room, and restrooms. At Yunker Farm, new amenities will include a dog park, splash pad, community gardens, and a band shell with terraced seating.

The project was initially estimated to cost $7.2 million but with some approved changes it is closer to $7.5 million. The project was funded with a $6 million bond issue, approved by referendum, and a $400,000 state grant, with the rest from park district reserves.

"It's been hiccup after hiccup," Park Board President Mike Bartos previously said of the construction project. "We're hoping to get it done at the lowest possible cost."

Mokena Park District officials said not having an executive director for the last six months has been big a challenge for their agency.

Park board members on Tuesday night debated who should be signing checks and complained that their committees weren't meeting.

Some board members said they were...

Mokena Park District officials said not having an executive director for the last six months has been big a challenge for their agency.

Park board members on Tuesday night debated who should be signing checks and complained that their committees weren't meeting.

Some board members said they were...

(Susan DeMar Lafferty)

Other changes not yet factored are costs to correct a 1-foot, 9-inch discrepancy in the recently poured concrete foundation at The Oaks. Officials said the new foundation was too short. According to minutes of weekly construction meetings, the mistake will require the drawings to be revised, because it affects the pitch of the roof, the steel, duct work, sprinklers and more.

A "miscommunication" with the village resulted in the fencing at the new dog park to be replaced. Initially, an agricultural fence was installed, but the village wanted a 6-foot white fence, estimated to cost $75,000.

The village also requested terraced seating for the band shell, instead of lawn seating.

In the beginning of the construction, while installing a sanitary sewer line, crews hit a fiber optic line, which had to be repaired.

Back in April, the board approved paying an additional $134,398 to Henry Bros., its general contractor. Minutes of that meeting noted that when Henry Bros. original contract was approved in July 2015, it did not include costs of bond and insurance.

The board also wants Bagdon and foundation President John Olivieri to resign...

Amid claims that most money raised by the Mokena Community Park Foundation did not benefit the Mokena Park District, the park board demanded that Commissioner Dennis Bagdon resign from the district's board, a lawyer said.

The board also wants Bagdon and foundation President John Olivieri to resign...

(Susan DeMar Lafferty)

Selection of Henry Bros., as construction manager was publicly criticized by some — including John Olivieri, of Olivieri Brothers of Frankfort, the project architect, because it was $97,000 more than the lowest proposal from Olivieri Brothers.

Bond and insurance costs were included in the proposals from the other firms seeking to be construction manager, according to park district documents.